HRW Warns Burkina Faso’s Anti-Rebel Operations Endanger Civilians

A new report from Human Rights Watch criticizes Burkina Faso for jeopardizing civilian safety in its ongoing battle with rebel forces, spotlighting the urgent need for protective measures.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has emphasized the urgent need for Burkina Faso to focus on safeguarding civilians as it continues to face challenges from armed rebels, according to a report.

On Tuesday, the NGO reported that the government exposed people to “unnecessary risk” during an attack by an armed group earlier this year. In August, at least 133 individuals were killed by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), affiliated with al-Qaeda.

The incident in the central region of the country was among this year’s most deadly, as Burkina Faso remains plagued by attacks from armed groups.

According to the report, residents of Barsalogho commune, located 80 km (50 miles) from Ouagadougou’s capital, were compelled by security forces to assist in excavating trenches for safeguarding security posts and their villages. Witnesses mentioned that JNIM fighters subsequently fired upon them.

Numerous villagers, who were not compensated for trench digging, reportedly refused to assist due to fears of being exposed to attacks. Nevertheless, the report indicates that they were coerced by the military into completing the task through threats and beatings.

JNIM, which took responsibility for the August 24 attack, stated that it targeted the villagers because they were seen as fighters allied with the state.

Human Rights Watch reported that it verified the killings using video analysis and witness testimonies, noting that dozens of children were among those killed. Additionally, at least 200 more people sustained injuries in what they described as “an evident war crime.”

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“The massacre in Barsalogho exemplifies the recent atrocities committed by Islamist armed groups against civilians, whom the government has unnecessarily endangered,” stated Carine Kaneza Nantulya, HRW’s deputy Africa director. “The authorities urgently need to make civilian protection a priority.”

Nevertheless, Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala dismissed HRW’s claims, emphasizing that forced labor is prohibited by law and stating that the allegations of military personnel compelling people to dig the trench “lack evidence.”

Fighters associated with al-Qaeda and the ISIL (ISIS) group have been responsible for killing thousands of people and displacing over two million in Burkina Faso, leaving half of the country beyond government control.

The violence led to two coups in 2022. Despite efforts by the military government, including forming new security alliances with Russia and neighboring West African nations, they have struggled to fulfill their promise of ending the unrest.

Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch, informed The Associated Press news agency that the government’s dependence on armed civilian groups called Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland is endangering civilians.